Activities for teens in Ottawa - Axe Throwing at BATL

I have tried a lot of sports since I was young. From shooting hoops in basketball to kicking goals in soccer, I know the satisfying feeling of throwing objects at a target and getting a point. I thought I had tried them all- until I heard about axe throwing. As something I had only seen in action movies, I never realized it was a sport, let alone a common recreational activity. I recently threw axes for the first time at BATL Ottawa.

As soon as we arrived, we met Lynn, our axe throwing coach. You could smell the sawdust that had been propelled from the circular wooden board by previous groups. Lynn taught us the basic rules of safety and beginning technique. This included foot positioning, the basic throwing movement and how to not end up looking like a Halloween decoration. 

While my first two shots bounced erratically off the board, the axe came close to the bullseye on the third try. Once that happened, I was hooked. After a few more tries, and with the guidance from my coach, I quickly got the feel of axe throwing. After that, I was ready to throw independently.

BATL provides papers with multiple different formats of two player games, with more accurate throws gaining more points. Think darts meets H-O-R-S-E. I played a few exciting games against my dad, and then my mom. There's just something so satisfying about swinging a sharp axe firmly into the center of a wooden board, then prying it out victoriously. 

We played a variety of games with the axe throwing, during which time we all improved quickly in our skill. The learning curve is much quicker than I had anticipated. Finally, after around an hour of swinging axes, Lynn brought out an even bigger axe. This was the official size that is used in tournaments. It was definitely a lot heavier, but I still managed to make it connect once or twice. I was very impressed by the people who do this as a sport. All in all, I had a great time axe throwing at BATL.

Next time,  I plan on inviting my friends for an afternoon of axe throwing.  

If you want to burn off a weekend afternoon hurling axes at a wooden board, check out BATL Ottawa. Depending on the package, you can book for groups of 2-24 people for a price as low as $21 per person. Time slots are 1 or 2 hours long. For more detailed information, click here.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. David received free passes to try out Axe Throwing but all thoughts are his own.

Rideau River Kayak

Kayaking has always been a pleasant activity for me to do on sunny summer days. I enjoy seeing the scenery, flora and fauna and doing a bit of exercise throughout. The only issue is that whenever I go to a kayak rental place, their entire fleet is limited to one boat launch. If I really want to visit somewhere else, there are a few rare instances of them allowing us to strap one of the kayaks to our car and bring it elsewhere, typically at a higher cost. 

This time, I wanted to explore the Rideau River, but found that there were no kayak rentals in the area that interested me. Luckily, Riverview Mobile Kayak had a solution.

We arrived at the Brantwood Park Boat Launch in the mid afternoon. It was sunny and not particularly windy, perfect weather for kayaking. Unlike most kayak places, Riverview Mobile Kayak brings the kayak to the boat launch, meaning they don’t have just one permanent location. 

The owner, Sylvie, kindly provided a briefing on the use of the kayak and recommendations on my route. I then put on my lifejacket, put my phone in the dry bag and launched into the Rideau River. I opted to paddle fast and hard against the current for the first 15 minutes, which was already relatively calm. Once I got upstream to the Billings Bridge, I relaxed and allowed the river to slowly bring me back to the boat launch, while paddling to adjust. It was then that I was able to truly appreciate the combination of scenery and wildlife on the Rideau River.

First, I saw a group of around five painted turtles lying on a log on the shoreline. I was able to stealthily approach them before they consecutively plopped into the water like dominos. As I floated further downstream, I was able to see a diverse array of birds. Canada geese and mallards dotted the waterline, but the highlight for me was seeing two herons. Surprisingly, I managed to get incredibly close to one of them while remaining quiet. After a few moments, it fluttered away and I continued paddling.

I spent around 1 hour and 45 minutes on the water, finding the kayak stable and easy to maneuver throughout. Eventually, I landed on the boat launch where Sylvie was ready to pull me back in. All in all, it was a relaxing trip through the natural heart of urban Ottawa. 

If an afternoon of paddling at one of a diverse set of locations around Ottawa sounds like a nice summer activity, Riverview Mobile Kayak is available at 10 boat launches on the Ottawa and Rideau River. These include Petrie Island, Britannia Beach, Mooney’s Bay and others. The minimum age is 7 years.  The price is $60 for up to 3 hours on the water but if you book for 2 or more participants, the price drops to $45 each.  That’s a good deal. Riverview Mobile Kayak Rental is insured and a fleet of paddleboards is also coming soon. For more information, visit https://www.riverviewkayak.com/.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. He received a complimentary rental for this post, but all views are his own.

Campfires at Saunders Farm

KITC would like to welcome back guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During a non-pandemic winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

---

One of the things I missed in 2020 was sitting around a campfire with my family. We were too late on the draw to go camping and my condo neighbours most likely would not appreciate a big bonfire in our backyard (and it’s against City bylaws).

This year, I was happy to see that Saunders Farm was offering campfires. The best part of it is that the campfire is already built for you and the package includes six hotdogs and buns, one package of kettle corn, ingredients to make s’mores, roasting sticks and napkins. Sounded perfect to me. 

We arrived on-site and were greeted by Saunders Farm staff. The campfires were well-spaced out and a person could park their vehicle right next to the campfire. When we pulled up our car, the campfire was already roaring. I loved opening up our box containing all the food ingredients. Much more fun than having salad for supper. We found our three roasting sticks and were ready to cook up some hot dogs. 

I was happy to see the hot dogs were jumbo sized and were not the type to easily fall off the stick. David, Sandy and I roasted up our dogs and worried about our diet for another day. 

Before starting on the s’mores, we took some time to relax and just take in the scenery. We were on a large open field with forest surrounding us. There were about twelve other groups enjoying campfires as well. Kids were running around, families were laughing, everyone was just having a great time. The campfires were so well spaced that the noise from one group did not interfere with the enjoyment of another. It also helped that we had clear skies, little wind and very few mosquitoes!

With our hot dogs properly digested it was time to make some s’mores. My wife, Sandy, goes by the adage it is best to burn the marshmallows as they then help to melt the chocolate. At first, I was not sure but did not object and she helped me make the perfect s’more. Our son, David, was more than happy to burn the marshmallows. By the end, we were a well-oiled s’more factory machine. 

The best part was that even after eating hot dogs and making s’mores, we still had more than an hour to enjoy the campfire. I am the type of person that enjoys having a roaring bonfire. In order to add wood, we had to ask a Saunders Farm employee to stoke the fire. I totally understand as I am sure Saunders Farm probably does not want their guests burning down the farm. Staff were always easy to find and went the extra mile taking a photo of us enjoying the fire. 

David started musing what would happen if you put various items in the fire. We tried a cherry tomato which we got from home. I drew the line when David started talking about smartphones!

Soon enough, it was time for us to pack up and make way for the next group of campfire enthusiasts. I would highly recommend this activity for any family or group that wants the experience of having a campfire but perhaps not the trouble of camping. We were well taken care of from the time we entered to the moment we left. Staff were always on hand to assist with the campfire or any other need. 

Bathrooms were close by and groups were well-spaced out making it a very safe activity. 

A few things to note is a group must bring their own chairs. You are allowed to bring non-alcoholic drinks onsite and can bring extra snacks in case you have a sudden licorice craving. Saunders Farm is also very open to accommodate dietary restrictions including gluten-free, celiac, vegetarian, vegan and halal. It is possible to purchase beverages on-site and fun things like sparklers. 

For more information about Saunders Farm and the campfires, visit, www.saundersfarm.com.

Stephen and his family were provided with the experience for free but all views are his own.

A family night out at the Wesley Clover Parks Drive-In Theatre

KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel.  During the summer, when there isn’t a pandemic, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival.  During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

---

I have not been to a drive-in movie since 1990. At the time, I was eighteen years old. We were seven teenagers stuffed into a car that fit four (a few may have been crammed in the trunk!).

Fast forward thirty years, drive-ins are making a comeback during this time of social distancing. Our family learned there was a drive-in taking place at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa’s west end and couldn’t wait to see what our son thought of this unique experience! 

This time, our family of three, easily fit in our vehicle which comfortably seats five. There was no need to hide anyone under car seats or next to the spare tire. 

I have to admit, I was somewhat nervous to go to the drive-in. Like most Ottawa families, for the past three months, our family excursions consisted of taking a walk or bike ride through our local park. 

Once we arrived on-site my fears were quickly allayed. All staff were wearing face masks and social distancing was maintained at all times. There was plenty of space between vehicles and people could even order concessions online via their smartphone. 

We had a few minutes to spare before the movie started so our son, David, and I walked around the site while maintaining our social distance from others. It felt like people were coming out of their cocoons. Hatchbacks and truck flatbeds were turned into viewing areas. We even saw one family bring a mattress for the young ones in case their dozy eyes could not last for the entire movie. 

The night we visited, Thor: The Dark World was on the bill. I am usually not a superhero fan but enjoyed the escapism of the film. The fact that it was a perfect summer night added to the ambiance. The night went by quickly but was definitely memorable.

Our motto this summer will be to keep it local. The drive-in experience at Wesley Clover Parks was the perfect place to start. 

As one can expect,  there are a few restrictions in place during this time of COVID-19.  People are asked to not bring in any outside food or drink other than sealed bottled water.  It is okay to sit in the hatchback or flatbed of your vehicle. Only one person per vehicle is allowed to go to the bathroom at a time with the exception of young kids who can be accompanied by one adult.  There are outdoor portapotties on-site with very good hand-washing facilities.  

Our family found all the measures to be reasonable and they did not impede our enjoyment of the event.  We understood they were for our safety and the safety of all participants.  

Films are being offered that will appeal to adults and children. Check the bill ahead of time to make sure the film and screening time are age-appropriate. All ticket sales are done online. For more information, visit, www.thedriveinottawa.ca

Glow Ottawa - A Visit to Glow Gardens

KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel.  During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival.  During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.  

Christmas may be my favourite time of year. Between all the holiday traditions and of course, the cookies, what is there not to like.

This year, our family found a new way to celebrate the season. We visited Glow Gardens at the EY Centre. 

Being the first year for Glow Gardens in Ottawa, I was not sure what to expect. We picked up our tickets and entered the hall. We were treated to a visual feast for the eyes. There were sparkling lights everywhere.

The first thing we saw was an illuminated moose. Being from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, I needed to have my photo taken with the moose. My son, David and wife, Sandy also got a snapshot. 

Glow Gardens features much more than just life-sized creatures of the Canadian forest. The main premise of Glow Gardens is a visit to six different countries, China, India, France, Netherlands, Mexico and the United Kingdom. There are amazing light exhibits themed around each country. For instance, there is a spectacular Taj Mahal for India and a windmill for the Netherlands. Everyone is also given a passport where they can collect stamps from each country. Collect all six stamps and there is a prize at the end. 

With passports in hand, China was our first stop. David wanted to have his photo taken next to the traditional Chinese architectural arch. Equally important was to get our first passport stamp. 

Over the course of the next several hours, we were able to visit all six countries and collected all the stamps. The light displays for each country were truly memorable. My personal favourite was the windmill from the Netherlands while Sandy loved the pinãta from Mexico.

Besides the various country displays, Glow Gardens has many interactive light displays perfect for any Instagrammer. We explored the hanging light gardens and got a family photo in the oversized letter o saying JOY. 

Being so close to Christmas, you would expect there to be displays based around Christmas. Glow Gardens did not disappoint. There was a huge snowman that David could fit inside. There was also a huge Christmas tree made out of gifts. 

Now that David is eleven, his interests are certainly different than when he was four. The papa in me still has an eye on what there is for young kids to do at an event. There were plenty of activities geared towards young kids at Glow Gardens. There was a huge playground with slides, a small train (that actually ran on time and worked!), LED swings and hopscotch, and a chance to visit Santa. 

Adults were well-served as well. There was a licensed area where you could purchase adult beverages. My favourite was the glow in the dark light bulbs that also doubled as beverage glasses. We purchased three non-alcoholic cranberry mocktails. Food could also be purchased on-site. 

The day we visited Glow Gardens, your ticket gave you access to the Originals Christmas Craft show. Craft shows are normally not my thing but I have a new respect and appreciation after visiting. There were vendors selling a wide assortment of handmade crafts and products. David and I loved all the free food samples. Some were so tasty that we purchased the product. 

Soon enough, it was time to head back home to do our own Christmas decorating. I could see Glow Gardens becoming a part of our annual Christmas traditions just like those cookies.

Glow Gardens will be running at the EY Centre until January 4th. I have a feeling this will be a very popular event in Ottawa so it may be wise to purchase tickets online, in advance. Also, check their website for exact hours. For all information visit, www.glowgardens.com

Full disclosure, we received free tickets but all views are my own.